Olmecs Games

OLMEC CULTURE!!!!!!!!!!

The Olmec culture thrived along Mexico’s gulf coast from roughly 1200 to 400 B.C. Best known today for their carved colossal heads, the Olmecs were an important early Mesoamerican civilization which had much influence on later cultures such as the Aztecs and the Maya. What do we know about these mysterious ancient people?The Olmec culture thrived along Mexico’s gulf coast from roughly 1200 B.C. to 400 B.C. One of the most important archaeological sites associated with this culture is known as San Lorenzo. Once there was a great city there: its original name has been lost to time. Considered by some archaeologists to be the first true Mesoamerican citySan Lorenzo was a powerful political center. As one of the first Mesoamerican cities – if not the first of all – it did not have true contemporary rivals and ruled over a large area. In the immediate environs, archaeologists have discovered many small settlements and dwellings, mostly located on hilltops. The smaller settlements were likely ruled by members or appointments of the royal family. Smaller sculptures have been found at these peripheral settlements, suggesting that they were sent there from San Lorenzo as a form of cultural or religious control. These smaller sites were useful in the production of food and other resources and were of strategic use militarily. The royal family ruled this mini-empire from the heights of San Lorenzo.In spite of its promising start, San Lorenzo fell into steep decline and by 900 B. C. was a shadow of its former self: the city would be abandoned a few generations later. Archaeologists do not really know why San Lorenzo's glory faded so soon after its classic era. There are a few clues, however. Many of the later sculptures were carved out of earlier ones, and some are only half-completed. This suggests that perhaps rival cities or tribes came to control the countryside, making acquisition of new stone difficult. Another possible explanation is that if the population somehow declined, there would be insufficient manpower to quarry and transport new material. 

Farmers And Society!!

The Olmec's lands were prone to flooding. So Olmec farmers built their houses on artificial hills. However the floods did deposit silt and mud, which made the land fertile. So Olmec farmers were able to grow two crops a year. Olmec farmers grew maize, beans, chilies, tomatoes and squashes. They kept dogs and chickens for meat. As well at that the Olmecs hunted deer and peccaries (wild pigs). The Olmecs also fished and they collected shellfish. The Olmecs also hunted turtles and alligators.Olmec society was stratified. At the top were ruler-priests. Then came craftsmen, merchants and farmers. Little is known about the Olmec religion but they were certainly polytheists (they worshiped many gods). The Olmecs worshiped a jaguar god and a god of maize (their staple food).Olmec merchants traded with many other cultures. They lived in jungles, which had abundant plant and animal life. However they lacked mineral resources. Obsidian, chert and jade had to be brought from far away. In return for them the Olmecs traded jaguar skins and feathers. Olmec ideas and practices spread to other parts of Central America through trade.

History of the Olmecs ''main''

                                 The Olmecs were the first Central American civilization. They flourished in the southern Gulf Coast of Mexico between 1300 BC and 400 BC. The Olmecs influenced all the other civilizations that came later. So much so that they are sometimes called the mother culture. The Olmecs built the first cities in Mexico. They also invented a form of writing and a calendar. The Olmecs also played a game with a solid rubber ball. A similar game was also played by later cultures.

The Olmecs created a religious center at San Lorenzo when they built temples and stone houses on a plateau. However San Lorenzo was destroyed about 900 BC. The Olmecs built a new religious center at La Venta about 800 BC, including a 30 meter high pyramid. However La Venta was destroyed about 400 BC. Yet Olmec culture did not die. Through trade Olmec ideas were adopted by other Central American peoples. Their descendants may have also merged with the Maya.At La Venta Olmec stonemasons carved giant basalt heads. They may represent Olmec rulers. At any rate they are shown wearing the helmets players wore during the rubber ball game. These huge heads are 3 meters high and weigh more than 20 tonnes! The Olmecs made cutting tools from hard stone like chert and from obsidian (volcanic glass, which when cut is extremely sharp). Jade was used to make ceremonial axes and jewelry.

Civilization!!

                                                         ` The Olmecs, the “Mother Culture,” flourished in the southern region of Mesoamerica during 1500– 400BC.Mesoamerica includes Mexico, parts of Honduras, parts of Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Belize.` “Olmec” is not the original name; called Olmec later.Art denotes harmony, spiritual force, contemplation without metal tools The Jaguar is considered a sacred animal The serpent is depicted in art Jade masks.Over 250 million slaves brought to Mexico Most intermarried into the culture ` Caste paintings illustrate 16 combinations of intermarriage (developed by the Spanish) ` Stereotypical representations.Family is a combination of African and Mayan. Africans brought their version of the instrument with ''G'' cords for resonators.Importation of Africans began in 1501, authorized by Spain By 1793, the number of slaves had declined, but the majority had mixed with whites and Indians

!Traditional!

                     Traditional                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   The marimba made by the                                                                                                                         Nandaypa family is a                                                                                                                                combination of African and                                                                                                                      Mayan.

More Culture

                   History Of The Olmecs Culture

 The ancient Olmec civilization is believed to have been centred around the southern Gulf Coast of Mexico area (today the states of Veracruz and Tabasco) - further south east than the heart of the Aztec empire.  The Olmec culture developed in the centuries before 1200BC (BCE), and declined around 400BC.The major Olmec urban area in early times was San Lorenzo Tenochtitlán, at the time the largest city in Mesoamerica.  This was probably a ritual and political place, housing thousands and using an elaborate water and drainage system.We can see similar types of sculpture as far away as central Mexico (the land of the Aztecs) and the states of Oaxaca, Morelos, Guerrero, maybe even farther.

        

Importance Of Olmecs!!

Ancient America

In the Americas, we are now learning that the history of the Americas is much older, and much more complicated than was once thought.

New evidences of early human habitation are constantly being found, a few sites have produced dates of human habitation as early as 50,000 years ago and more. Sites such as Pedra Furada - Brazil, Monte Verde - Chile, and Fells cave in Tierra del Fuego - Chile, are enabling us to paint a new, and more complete picture, of the early history of the Western Hemisphere

A note here: It seems highly unlikely that early Australoids could have crossed the vast expanse of the Pacific in boats that long ago. Perhaps a better theory is that they used a route around the Antarctic, just as the Amerindian used a route around the Arctic.

12,000 - 7,000 B.C. (the Clovis time-frame) – Amerindians were coming in across the Bering Straits, with the Eskimo being the last of these migrants. {a note here: the Eskimo is Mongol, all Amerindians may not be Mongol}. Some North and perhaps even some South American Amerindians, perhaps were originally Caucasians of the western Eurasian plains, who may have skirted north of the Mongols to enter the Americas.

The discovery of Scythian mummys (Caucasian) in the permafrost of the Mongolian highlands makes this a very real possibility. Additionally, there seems to be an unmistakable Caucasian influence in the facial features of some of the artifacts. Making the source of their pigmentation, {cross-breeding in Asia or the Americans}, problematic indeed. The great variation in pigmentation and other physical characteristics of Amerindians in the great expanse of the Western Hemisphere, makes it clear that many gene pools were at work.

A curiosity concerning population patterns in the Americas: By the time of the Europeans, the estimated population of the Americas was 100 million. With 40 million in the densely populated area of Mexico and Central America, 45 million in South America. But, only 10 million in the vast expanse of Canada and the United States. This was the source of much head-scratching, until a clever theory was put forth - one that does have some evidence.

The theory is, that at the time of the Clovis migration, much of North America was still covered in Glacial Ice, so instead of walking south, the Amerindian "Island-Hopped" south in boats, using coastal islands (which are known to have been icefree) and icefree patches of coastline, until they found habitable land. Seems to be a perfectly reasonable theory.

Pictures Of The Olmecs!!

                                                              PICTURES!!

The Old Culture Of Olmecs!!

                                                       CULTURE!!

 The Olmec traded with other people all over South America. Archaeologists find Olmec pottery all over Central America and Mexico, and pottery from other people who lived nearby is also found in Olmec cities. Probably the Olmecs also traded tar, or bitumen - sticky black oily stuff like asphalt that you can use to patch boats and seal up roofs. Some of the trade was probably on boats that travelled up and down the rivers, and some of it was overland, carried by traders walking from city to city.The Olmecs built huge religious stone emblems of their gods and rulers. Some of these emblems were more than nine feet tall, and weighed more than 40 tons. These massive figures were transported miles across the terrain without the use of wheels or the aid of animals.   The Olmecs huge religious stone embl

Fun Games To Play About Olmecs!!

                                                 GAMES!!!!

The first civilization to evolve in Mesoamerica was that of the Olmecs. Around 1500 B.C., villages in Mesoamerica became more complex and specialized. These people formed a nation which they called Olmec.  Called ''Ball Atrack'' They invented all ball games such as basketball,volleyball,soccer,football,handball,tennis(ball),golf(balls),pool(balls).

http://www.agame.com/game/ball-atrack

Religion!!

                                                    Religion About The Olmecs!!!

1. The mysterious Olmec civilization prospered in Pre-Classical (Formative) Mesoamerica from c. 1200 BCE to c. 400 BCE and is generally considered the forerunner of all subsequent Mesoamerican cultures such as the Maya and Aztecs.Aug 30, 2013  From 1400 BC to 400 BC, the Olmec civilization flourished in the territory currently occupied by Mexico on the south part of the Gulf Coast. For many reasons, the culture of the Olmecs is considered to be the mother of all the Mesoamerican cultures.The Olmec grew maize, beans, squash, manioc, sweet potato, as well as cotton. Fruits and vegetables were supplemented with fish, turtle, snake, and mollusks from the nearby rivers, and crabs and shellfish in the coastal areas. Birds were available as food sources, as were game including peccary, oppossum, raccoon, rabbit, and in particular deer. Despite the wide range of hunting and fishing available, midden surveys have found that the domesticated dog was the single most plentiful source of animal protein. Since nearly all clothing has been destroyed over the past two thousand years - it is hard to say what the Olmecs wore. Researchers found however, that the men wore loincloths or a skirt and some sort of cloak while the women wore skirts and bodices. The women (which is still not uncommon for today’s Indian society) often went with their breasts bared. Considering that certain terrain was rocky, sandals were most likely worn. People also wore bracelets, necklaces, and other decorative paraphernalia along with piercings in their nasal septum. Of course, there were also headdresses and turbans also worn by the appropriate officials
2. Link:https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=olmecs%20religion
3. 
4.